Jordan-Hare had that energy on spring game. We ain’t talkin’ band, cheerleaders, or even that smoked BBQ smell rolling through the breeze. Nah, it was that vibe—like something was brewing. Like somebody’s spot at the top wasn’t as secure as folks thought. And right in the center of it? A golden boy who didn’t even throw a pass. Yep, while Jackson Arnold was chillin’ with a wrapped hammy, the other kid with 950k tag turned the stadium into his own personal mixtape. Whole crowd lookin’ like, “Yo, who is this freshman baller?” Alright, let’s get to it.
While Jackson Arnold, the presumed QB1 for Auburn, sat out of A-Day with a minor hamstring pull, a different storyline was writing itself—with bold ink. Freshman quarterback Deuce Knight, aka “Mr. 950K NIL Man,” took full advantage of his Jordan-Hare debut and lit it up. The former five-star rolled out, dropped dimes, and danced his way into the spotlight like he’d been here before. First throw? A lil’ off. But second? Boom—35-yard touchdown to Perry Thompson. After that? More TDs to Horatio Fields and Cam Coleman. Man was cooking like Sunday dinner.
Daryl Dapprich didn’t waste time gassing him up either on The Top Button Podcast: “He (Deuce) looked to me like I expected a true freshman to look. I think at times he showed flashes, and you saw how really, really special he’s going to be. Things like arm strength, athletic ability—I really liked when he made a nice read at the five-yard line, kept it, walked into the end zone. He’s got all the athleticism, all the charisma. I mean, the moment—even in a situation like that, getting all the snaps and getting in the different packages—you know, he didn’t look like he was intimidated or wide-eyed. There’s not much you can tell until the bullets start flying for real. But then, he also made some decisions that a true freshman makes.” And yeah, Deuce threw into double coverage once or twice, but that’s just a young-gun tryna flex his high school bag in an SEC kitchen. Like Daryl said, “That’ll come with experience. But he’s so talented that he thinks he can make that play. So, discretion a little bit I think, but I kind of saw it all there—the total package.”
Zac Blackerby doubled down on Deuce Knight’s glaze, “Justin Ferguson (The Tigers spring game observer) put it in his newsletter that he sent out this morning—he said Deuce Knight is a five-star freshman, and it was very clear on both of those things. Yes, he looked like a five-star as far as the way he threw the football. And then just physically—I mean, in stature—he’s put on weight and developed already, even since he stepped foot on campus after being an early enrollee. And then, he looked like a freshman at times. But man, there were some of those balls that were just put on a dot—thrown on a rope…that ball gets from point A to point B in a hurry. Like a laser…the traits are absolutely there. He’s going to be a really good quarterback, no question.”
Now, let’s not get it twisted. Jackson Arnold ain’t falling off nobody’s depth chart just yet. The junior transfer is still the expected starter. But his seat? Definitely a lil warmer today. And the fact that the media—and fans—keep saying Knight “ain’t lookin’ wide-eyed,” that he got charisma, got the moment, got the juice? However, Freeze got a real problem on his hands. ‘Cause Knight didn’t just flash—he made a statement with his performance. While Arnold was on the sideline, Knight just casually became a $950k headline.
Hugh Freeze hit with a stern ultimatum from big time media boss
Let’s keep it a buck—this ain’t no regular QB battle. This whole thing feels like an early-season episode of “Last Chance Freeze.” Auburn wrapped up 2024 with a 5–7 record and only two SEC wins. Sure, there was that banger 43–41 quadruple-OT win over Texas A&M, but that wasn’t enough to buy Hugh Freeze another honeymoon year. Folks in Auburn? They ain’t tryna hear excuses. They want wins. Look, the playoff is a distant dream for Hugh Freeze, at this point. And the insiders? They’re expecting at least 9 wins or pack ya bags.
SEC insider Michael Bratton pulled up on That SEC Football Podcast and didn’t mince words: “It’s never his fault. Nine times outta ten, Freeze got someone else to blame.” That line hit like a pick-six. And he’s not lying. Since Freezer touched down in 2023, it’s been nothing but musical chairs with his staff. Fired his OC Philip Montgomery, ditched both coordinators, and now he’s calling plays himself.
And then there’s the Bo Wallace shade. The former Ole Miss QB aired it out on Reddit: “All the guy did was break my body in half, and I played every game getting a numbing shot just to go get him his money… That’s the truth about who Hugh Freeze is.” But Freeze ain’t exactly broke. He got a fully stocked roster, heavy hitters like Cam Coleman, who went OFF for 720 yards and 7 TDs last year, and most importantly, two quarterbacks who can both sling it. One’s a transfer with everything to lose. The other? A $950k freshman who already got fans daydreaming‘.
Add to that? Auburn hosts both Georgia and Bama this year. Yeah… it’s do-or-die. And now, the question on every Auburn fan’s lips ain’t just “Who’s starting Week 1?” It’s “How long Freeze got before this whole thing gets real messy? Freeze got some decision to make here. So yeah. Keep ya eyes on The Plains. There’s a storm brewing. And the freshman wearing #9? He just might be the lightning bolt that changes everything.
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